NGC 4478 is an 11.5 magnitude elliptical galaxy standing in the shadow of NGC 4486, otherwise known as M87. To find this pair, slew about 1.5 degree southeast from M84 and M86. M87 appears as a 4' diameter patch with a condensed bright core at 82X in my 10-inch Newtonian. NGC 4478 is visible about 9' to the southwest. The 11.5 magnitude elliptical galaxy shows a bright, stellar core surrounded by a 2'x1' diffuse glow. The bright star to the north is 8.6 magnitude HD 108915.

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Revised: January 24, 2003 [WDF]